“Good morning, brother!” a young lady exclaimed loudly as she barged into the room.
“Aah, don’t be so loud, Xiao Li,” the young man groaned, rubbing his temples.
“Hehe, brother, I have special privileges to be loud since I’m your little sister, after all,” Xiao Li said with a mischievous grin.
“Forget about that, brother! I have something you’ll love. I can’t wait for you to try it, so hurry up! Let me help you,” she said enthusiastically, assisting her brother into a sitting position on the bed.
Once he was sitting, the young man asked, “So, what is it that you want me to try?”
“Just cooperate with me! You’ll find out soon enough. I can’t tell you—it’s a surprise, after all,” she said as she placed a helmet-like device on his head.
“Okay, I’m starting it now. You’ll know what the surprise is in just a few minutes,” Xiao Li said, pressing a button on the side of the helmet.
Suddenly, the young man felt his consciousness being pulled away from his body. His senses dulled, and he lost all awareness of his surroundings.
When he slowly opened his eyes, he found himself standing on a pure white platform, surrounded by mist. An otherworldly aura radiated from everything—the platform, the mist, even the very air itself.
Anyone would have been stunned by such a sudden change in their environment, but what truly shocked him was something else entirely. His legs trembled, unaccustomed to supporting his weight. His vision, a distant memory, now painted the world in vivid colors and light he had nearly forgotten. His breath hitched as he clenched his fists, feeling strength flow through them for the first time in years.
“W-w-wait, what? How can I see? And why am I able to stand on my own?” he stammered, overwhelmed by the realization. Yes, more than his unfamiliar surroundings, what truly shocked him was his own body’s newfound functionality.
A Glimpse into the Past
The young man and his sister were orphans, adopted by an elderly man in his seventies. Just weeks after their adoption, the young man fell victim to a mysterious illness that left him blind and completely paralyzed, except for his ability to speak and hear. The old man did everything in his power to uncover the cause and seek treatment, but no doctor could find an answer.
A year after the disease struck, the old man passed away. Since he had no blood relatives—his family had died in a car accident—he left everything he owned to the two siblings, who were not even ten years old at the time.
The old man had been fairly wealthy, leaving behind enough money for them to live an average life for some years. He had never indulged in luxury, choosing to live in a modest apartment. But after his death, life became an uphill battle for the siblings. Xiao Li was only eight, and the young man was ten.
Determined to survive, Xiao Li dedicated herself to gaining knowledge. She bought a laptop and read countless books online, learning everything she could. On top of that, she managed all household chores while taking care of her brother—feeding him, talking to him, and even cleaning him daily. She also took him to the doctor every month, hoping for any sign of improvement.
After five years of relentless hard work, she had educated herself in nearly every practical field. Using this knowledge, she launched an online business—and it was a resounding success. She used her earnings to provide better treatment for her brother, determined to cure his illness.
Another three years passed, and then—an opportunity arose. A game was about to launch, one that had taken billions to develop. The world was about to witness the first fully immersive VR cultivation experience. Soul Cultivation was more than just a game—it was a revolution. Some claimed its technology blurred the line between reality and fiction, while others whispered that it was based on ancient, forgotten techniques.
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Xiao Li had spent weeks researching it, ensuring her brother would be among the first players. She wouldn't let this opportunity slip away—not when it could bring her brother happiness.
Back to the Present
For the young man, this feeling—being able to move, see, and feel—was priceless. He didn’t know what his sister had done, but he couldn’t be more grateful. She had always been the one carrying the burden, taking on responsibilities no child should have to bear. He owed her everything.
Suppressing the overwhelming emotions building within him, he muttered, “Th-this is amazing... But how did she do it? And where am I?”
Finally, he took notice of his surroundings. Floating in the air before him was a golden sign with bold words inscribed on it:
[WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF CULTIVATION]
[TIME UNTIL GAME LAUNCH:]
[05:30]
[05:29]
“A game, huh? So, this is what it was… No wonder I can move. But this is still miraculous! Even if it’s just a game, I’ll make full use of this opportunity my sister gave me.” Determined, he spent the remaining time familiarizing himself with his body. He stumbled multiple times, but before the countdown reached zero, he had regained control.
[00:01]
[00:00]
As the timer hit zero, a powerful gale surged from behind him. Turning around, he saw cracks forming in the air before a circular portal appeared. An ancient, oppressive aura pressed down upon him.
From within the portal emerged a breathtaking woman, seemingly in her early twenties. She exuded an aura of absolute dominance, as if she were the most powerful being in existence. She had silky white hair, golden eyes that could captivate anyone, perfectly arched eyebrows, and an hourglass figure that radiated elegance. She was, without a doubt, the most stunning woman he had ever seen—second only to his sister, obviously.
Studying him with a nonchalant expression, she finally spoke. “Mortal, place your hand on this stone.”
A smooth, glowing stone materialized in her hand, and she gently pushed it toward him. It floated in the air, waiting.
The young man nodded and placed his hand on the stone.
A screen materialized before them.
[Name: Not Chosen Yet]
[Cultivation Stage: Mortal]
[Physical Toughness: 180]
[Physical Strength: 160]
[Mental Strength: 390]
[Soul Strength: 2700]
[Speed: 190]
[Stamina: 140]
[Physique: Soul Cleansing Physique]
[Bloodline: Not Activated]
[Soul Purity: 100%]
[Talent: Error]
The woman’s composed expression flickered for the briefest moment before she quickly regained her calm. However, internally, she was screaming. ‘What the hell?! His soul strength rivals that of an Advancing Soul Stage cultivator… and he’s just a mortal! No—what’s even more absurd is that his soul purity is at 100%! That shouldn’t even be possible! And what is this ‘Error’ talent? Did something go wrong?!’
Xiao Feng noticed the momentary change in her expression and frowned. “Is something wrong?”
Regaining her composure, she spoke. “My name is Xia Lingling. What is yours, kid?”
“You can call me Xiao Feng, Sister Xia,” he said with a polite bow and a small smile.
Xia Lingling’s mouth twitched. ‘Sister Xia?! This brat…’
“Xiao Feng don’t ask any questions. For now, just focus on comprehending as much as you can from what I’m about to show you. I’m not allowed to give you anything directly—I can only reveal it to you. You have ten minutes to grasp as much as possible.”
Without waiting for a response, she gestured for him to sit cross-legged. As he complied, she closed her eyes and began chanting in an unfamiliar language, her voice carrying a mysterious resonance. Xiao Feng, rather than simply listening, stared at her with such intensity it felt as if he were trying to unravel her very existence, before finally closing his eyes.
A slight chill ran down Xia’s spine. His gaze unsettled her in a way she couldn’t quite explain.
Nine and a half minutes passed, and finally—just a single letter from the thousands of words she spoke made sense to him. In that instant, a strange power stirred within him, unlike anything he had ever felt before. For the first time in his life, he struggled to comprehend something.
Xia’s eyes widened in shock as she noticed a faint, shimmering thread emerging from his body, radiating an aura eerily similar to her own. ‘Impossible. A mortal—comprehending this technique? In under ten minutes?’ she thought.
‘I only did this to test his so-called "error-level" talent… I never expected him to actually understand anything! This shouldn’t be possible. No—his very existence is an anomaly!’ Her shock slowly morphed into slight irritation.
Xiao Feng, noticing that she had suddenly stopped chanting, opened his eyes and asked, “Is something wrong?” He had been enjoying the sensation her words evoked, but now that it was gone, he couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.
Shaking off her thoughts, she said seriously, “Listen carefully. I don’t have time to explain everything but never reveal your stats to anyone you don’t trust with your life. It could bring you endless trouble.”
She then took a deep breath and added, “What I just showed you was a glimpse of the Heavenly Soul Obliteration Technique. It is one of the most powerful techniques I know, and at your current level, you won’t be able to use it for a long time. Train your body and mind currently as that’s the only thing you will be able to depend on for some time.”
Looking at Xiao Feng one last time, she smirked. “I look forward to seeing what you become. Try not to die, kid, I am looking forward to the next time we meet so try not to disappoint me” she continues before pointing at his wrist as a small light orb which was so bright that the brightness spread across the entire area of thousands of miles which forced him to close his eyes, before it flew and got attached to his wrist. “You will know if someone from my faction is nearby when that starts glowing and it also gives you a little support, once again try not to die, kid” her voice seemed distant as she was finishing her statement.
Xiao Feng wanted to say so many things but just as he was about to open his mouth, he felt an energy enter within him and the next moment he was not in the platform.
On the platform where he was, Xia looked at his disappearing figure and said “*Sigh* I really need some rest after that, maybe my eyes were deceiving me all throughout this” she says while entering the portal she came from. “I wonder what is about to happen to the world I have to keep this a secret for now, just what kind of an existence is entering this world” she says as her figure along with the portal slowly disappeared.
When he finally opens his eyes again, he was stunned by what he saw-